EP3278781B1 - Article absorbant et procédé de production associé - Google Patents

Article absorbant et procédé de production associé Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3278781B1
EP3278781B1 EP16772631.4A EP16772631A EP3278781B1 EP 3278781 B1 EP3278781 B1 EP 3278781B1 EP 16772631 A EP16772631 A EP 16772631A EP 3278781 B1 EP3278781 B1 EP 3278781B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sheet layer
stretchable
elastic film
stretchable region
stretching
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Application number
EP16772631.4A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP3278781A4 (fr
EP3278781A1 (fr
Inventor
Takashi Matsumura
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Daio Paper Corp
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Daio Paper Corp
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Publication of EP3278781A4 publication Critical patent/EP3278781A4/fr
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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/15577—Apparatus or processes for manufacturing
    • A61F13/15585—Apparatus or processes for manufacturing of babies' napkins, e.g. diapers
    • A61F13/15593—Apparatus or processes for manufacturing of babies' napkins, e.g. diapers having elastic ribbons fixed thereto; Devices for applying the ribbons
    • A61F13/15601—Apparatus or processes for manufacturing of babies' napkins, e.g. diapers having elastic ribbons fixed thereto; Devices for applying the ribbons the ribbons being applied transversely to the direction of the movement of the webs the diapers are being made of
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/45—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the shape
    • A61F13/49—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/45—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the shape
    • A61F13/49—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers
    • A61F13/49007—Form-fitting, self-adjusting disposable diapers
    • A61F13/49009—Form-fitting, self-adjusting disposable diapers with elastic means
    • A61F13/49011—Form-fitting, self-adjusting disposable diapers with elastic means the elastic means is located at the waist region
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/45—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the shape
    • A61F13/49—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers
    • A61F13/49007—Form-fitting, self-adjusting disposable diapers
    • A61F13/49009—Form-fitting, self-adjusting disposable diapers with elastic means
    • A61F13/49017—Form-fitting, self-adjusting disposable diapers with elastic means the elastic means being located at the crotch region
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/45—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the shape
    • A61F13/49—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers
    • A61F13/494—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers characterised by edge leakage prevention means
    • A61F13/49406—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers characterised by edge leakage prevention means the edge leakage prevention means being at the crotch region
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/45—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the shape
    • A61F13/49—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers
    • A61F13/496—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers in the form of pants or briefs
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/51—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the outer layers
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/45—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the shape
    • A61F13/49—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers
    • A61F13/49007—Form-fitting, self-adjusting disposable diapers
    • A61F13/49009—Form-fitting, self-adjusting disposable diapers with elastic means
    • A61F13/4902—Form-fitting, self-adjusting disposable diapers with elastic means characterised by the elastic material
    • A61F2013/49022—Form-fitting, self-adjusting disposable diapers with elastic means characterised by the elastic material being elastomeric sheet
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/45—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the shape
    • A61F13/49—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers
    • A61F13/49007—Form-fitting, self-adjusting disposable diapers
    • A61F2013/49042—Form-fitting, self-adjusting disposable diapers with only stretchable part, i.e. part being not elastic but only extensible with not a full recovery of its original length
    • A61F2013/49052—Form-fitting, self-adjusting disposable diapers with only stretchable part, i.e. part being not elastic but only extensible with not a full recovery of its original length having a specific direction of stretchability
    • A61F2013/49057—Form-fitting, self-adjusting disposable diapers with only stretchable part, i.e. part being not elastic but only extensible with not a full recovery of its original length having a specific direction of stretchability being stretchable in both longitudinal and transversal direction
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/45—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the shape
    • A61F13/49—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers
    • A61F13/494—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers characterised by edge leakage prevention means
    • A61F2013/4948—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers characterised by edge leakage prevention means the edge leakage prevention means being elastic
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/45—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the shape
    • A61F13/49—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers
    • A61F13/494—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers characterised by edge leakage prevention means
    • A61F2013/49493—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers characterised by edge leakage prevention means the edge leakage prevention means being or forming three-dimensional barrier with raised lateral side-or end-wall

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an absorbent article having an elastic film stretchable structure formed by interposing an elastic film between sheet layers, and a method of manufacturing the same.
  • elastic characteristics are typically imparted to leg portions, waist portions, and the like to improve fitness to the surfaces of bodies .
  • a typical approach to impart elastic characteristics is fixing of elongated elastically stretchable members, such as rubber threads, in a state stretched in the longitudinal direction.
  • An approach to impart excellent surface fitting is fixing of elastic film in a state stretched in a direction of imparting elasticity (for example, see Patent Literatures 1 to 3).
  • a stretchable region is composed of a first sheet layer, a second sheet layer, and an elastic film interposed therebetween, and the first sheet layer and the second sheet layer are joined via through holes formed in the elastic film or through the elastic film at a large number of bond portions arranged at intervals in a stretching and contracting direction and a direction orthogonal thereto while the elastic film is stretched in the stretching and contracting direction along the surfaces of the first sheet layer and the second sheet layer.
  • This elastic film stretchable structure has advantages as follows: surface fitness is excellent; the first sheet layer and the second sheet layer are joined each other at an extremely low level, thus the elastic film stretchable structure has a satisfactory softness; and the through holes of the elastic film contribute to improvement in air permeability.
  • US 2002/016122 A1 relates to an absorbent article based on an elastic laminate web comprising a first web, and a second web joined to the first web in a face to face relationship at a plurality of discrete bond sites, and an elastic material is disposed between the first and second webs.
  • the elastic material is apertured in regions coincident with the bond sites, such that the first and second webs are joined through the apertures.
  • the laminate can be stretched in a predetermined direction, such as by incremental stretching, to produce an apertured elastic laminate.
  • US 2006/068168 A1 describes an absorbent article having a built-in size indicator which may comprises a stretchable panel that changes color when stretched.
  • the absorbent article includes waist elastic members and leg elastic members formed from a suitable elastic material that can be stretched.
  • a main problem of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article including an elastic film stretchable region in which elasticity changes depending on the part and a method of manufacturing the same.
  • An absorbent article comprising a stretchable region being stretchable at least in one direction, wherein the stretchable region is formed by stacking an elastic film between a first sheet layer made of a nonwoven fabric and a second sheet layer made of a nonwoven fabric, and in a state in which the elastic film is stretched in a stretching and contracting direction of the stretchable region at a stretch rate continuously changing in a direction orthogonal to the stretching and contracting direction, the first sheet layer and the second sheet layer are joined via through holes formed in the elastic film at a large number of bond portions arranged at intervals in the stretching and contracting direction and the direction orthogonal thereto.
  • an interval between the two adjacent bond portions becomes narrow as the elastic film contracts between the bond portions, and a contraction wrinkle extending in the direction orthogonal to the stretching and contracting direction is formed between the bond portions in the first sheet layer and the second sheet layer.
  • a stretched state as the elastic film is stretched between the bond portions, the interval between the two adjacent bond portions becomes wide and the contraction wrinkle in the first sheet layer and the second sheet layer is stretched, and the elastic film is allowed to stretch elastically up to a completely spread state of the first sheet layer and the second sheet layer.
  • the stretchable region in the state in which the elastic film is stretched in the stretching and contracting direction at the stretch rate continuously changing in the direction orthogonal to the stretching and contracting direction, the first sheet layer and the second sheet layer are joined together.
  • the stretchable region is based on the elastic film, elasticity may be changed depending on the part in the direction orthogonal to the stretching and contracting direction, and more preferable fitness may be obtained.
  • the absorbent article is an underpants-type disposable diaper comprising an outer body included in a front body and a back body, and an inner body that includes an absorber and is fixed to an internal surface of the outer body, wherein both side portions of the outer body in the front body are respectively joined to both side portions of the outer body in the back body to define side seal portions, and a lower-torso region in an annular shape, a waist opening and a pair of right and left leg openings are thereby formed, at least one of the outer body of the front body and the outer body of the back body has the stretchable region being stretchable at least in a width direction in a portion of the lower-torso region including at least a waist portion, and in the stretchable region, in a state in which the elastic film is stretched in the stretching and contracting direction at the stretch rate continuously increasing from a crotch side toward a waist opening side, the first sheet layer and the second sheet layer are joined together.
  • the underpants-type disposable diaper having such a structure is an absorbent article, which is particularly preferable to have an elastic film stretchable structure, since the outer body needs to have elasticity in a wide range and be excellent in air permeability.
  • a stronger contraction force is applied to the waist portion than that applied to the crotch side, and thus, conventionally, a rubber thread needs to be added to the waist portion as in Patent Literatures 2 and 3.
  • elasticity may be changed depending on the part.
  • an area of each of the bond portions in the stretchable region is in a range of 0.14 to 3.5 mm 2
  • an area of an opening of each of the through holes in a natural length state is 1 to 1.5 times the area of each of the bond portions
  • an area rate of the bond portions in the stretchable region is in a range of 1.8 to 22.5%
  • the stretchable region corresponds to a region in which the bond portions are arranged in the same pattern
  • a portion having a highest elongation at an elastic limit in the stretchable region has a stretch rate set to 1.1 to 1.5 times the stretch rate of a portion having a lowest elongation at the elastic limit in the stretchable region.
  • the area of the bond portion, the area of the opening of the through hole, the area rate of the bond portion, the extent of change of the stretch rate, etc. may be appropriately determined. However, in a normal case, it is desirable to set the values within the above ranges.
  • the "area rate” refers to the proportion of a target portion per unit area, and expresses the proportion in percentage by dividing a total area of the target portion (for example, the bond portions and the openings of the through holes) in a target region (for example, the stretchable region) by an area of the target region.
  • the "area rate of the bond portions” refers to an area rate in a state of being stretched in the stretching and contracting direction up to the elastic limit.
  • the area of the opening of the through hole refers to a value in a state in which the stretchable structure is in a natural length state.
  • the area of the opening of the through hole is not uniform in the thickness direction, for example, when the area is different between a front and a back of the elastic film, the area refers to a minimum value.
  • the "elongation at the elastic limit” refers to the proportion of the length in percentage at an elastic limit (in other words, in a state in which the first sheet layer and the second sheet layer are completely spread)-relative to the natural length set to 100%.
  • a method of manufacturing an absorbent article including a stretchable region being stretchable at least in one direction, wherein in forming the stretchable region, in a state in which an elastic film is interposed between a first sheet layer made of a nonwoven fabric and a second sheet layer made of a nonwoven fabric while being stretched in a stretching and contracting direction of the stretchable region at a stretch rate continuously changing in a direction orthogonal to the stretching and contracting direction, the elastic film is melted to form through holes at a large number of positions arranged at intervals in the stretching and contracting direction and the direction orthogonal thereto, and the first sheet layer and the second sheet layer are joined via the through holes.
  • the present invention has an advantage that an absorbent article including an elastic film stretchable region in which elasticity changes depending on the part and a method of manufacturing the same and the like are obtained.
  • a dotted portion in a cross-sectional view indicates joining means such as a hot-melt adhesive.
  • Fig. 1 to Fig. 7 illustrate an underpants-type disposable diaper.
  • This underpants-type disposable diaper (hereinafter also simply referred to as a diaper) has an outer body 20 included in a front body F and a back body B, and an inner body 10 that is fixed in a unified manner to the internal surface of the outer body 20. Further, in the inner body 10, an absorber 13 is interposed between a liquid pervious front surface sheet 11 and a liquid impervious back surface side sheet 12.
  • joining means such as a hot-melt adhesive (a shaded part 10B of Fig.
  • the inner body 10 and the outer body 20 are folded at a boundary between the front body F and the back body B, i.e., in the center in the front-back direction or longitudinal direction, and both side portions thereof are joined to each other by heat sealing, a hot-melt adhesive, etc. to form side seal portions 21, thereby obtaining an underpants-type disposable diaper in which a waist opening and a pair of right and left leg openings are formed.
  • the inner body 10 includes a liquid-pervious front surface sheet 11 composed of, for example, non-woven fabric, a liquid-impermeable back surface side sheet 12 composed of, for example, polyethylene, and an absorber 13 interposed between the front surface sheet 11 and the liquid-impermeable back surface side sheet 12.
  • the inner body 10 is configured to absorb and retain excretory fluid passing through the front surface sheet 11.
  • the inner body 10 may have any planar shape and typically has a substantially rectangular shape as shown in the drawing.
  • the liquid-pervious front surface sheet 11 that covers a front surface side (skin-contacting side) of the absorber 13 is preferably composed of perforated or imperforate nonwoven fabric or a porous plastic sheet.
  • the raw fibers of the nonwoven fabric include synthetic fibers, such as olefin fibers, e.g., polyethylene and polypropylene, polyester fibers, and polyamide fibers; recycled fibers, such as rayon and cupra; and natural fibers, such as cotton.
  • the nonwoven fabric can be produced by any process, for example, spun lacing, spunbonding, thermal bonding, melt blowing, or needle punching. Among these processes, preferred are spun lacing in view of softness and drape characteristics and thermal bonding in view of bulky soft products.
  • a large number of through holes formed in the liquid-pervious front surface sheet 11 facilitates absorption of urine and achieves dry touch characteristics.
  • the liquid-pervious front surface sheet 11 extends around the side edges of the absorber 13 and extends to the back surface side of the absorb
  • the liquid-impermeable back surface side sheet 12, covering the back surface side (non-skin-contacting side) of the absorber 13 is composed of a liquid-impervious plastic sheet, for example, polyethylene sheet or polypropylene sheet.
  • a liquid-impervious plastic sheet for example, polyethylene sheet or polypropylene sheet.
  • permeable films have been preferably used in view of preventing stuffiness.
  • This water-block permeable sheet is a micro-porous sheet prepared through melt-kneading an olefin resin, for example, polyethylene resin or polypropylene resin, and inorganic filler, forming a sheet with the kneaded materials, and then uniaxially or biaxially elongating the sheet.
  • the absorber 13 may be composed of a well-known basic component, such as an accumulated body of pulp fibers, an assembly of filaments, composed of, for example, cellulose acetate, or nonwoven fabric, and the absorber 13 may include as necessary high-absorbent polymer mixed or fixed to the basic component.
  • the absorber 13 may be wrapped with a liquid-permeable and liquid-retainable package sheet 14, such as a crepe sheet, to retain the shape and polymers, as required.
  • the absorber 13 has a substantially hourglass shape having a narrower portion 13N with a width narrower than those of the front and back end portions of the absorber 13, at a crotch portion .
  • the absorber 13 may have any other shape, for example, a rectangular shape, as appropriate.
  • the size of the narrower portion 13N may be appropriately determined.
  • the narrower portion 13N may have a length of approximately 20 to 50% of the entire length of the diaper along the front-back direction, and a width, at the narrowest region, of approximately 40 to 60% of the entire width of the absorber 13. If the inner body 10 has a substantially rectangular planar shape in the case of the absorber with such a narrower portion 13N, the inner body 10 has portions free of the absorber 13 according to the narrower portion 13N of the absorber 13.
  • Three-dimensional gathers BS which are configured to fit around the legs, are formed on both side portions of the inner body 10.
  • the three-dimensional gathers BS are each composed of a gather nonwoven fabric 15 folded into a duplicate sheet consisting of a fixed section fixed to the side portion of the back surface of the inner body, a main section extending from the fixed section around the side portion of the inner body to the side portion of the front surface of the inner body, lying down sections formed by fixing the front end portion and back end portion of the main section in a lying down state to the side portion of the front surface of the inner body, and a free section formed in an un-fixed state between the lying down sections.
  • Elongated gather elastic members 16 are disposed in each duplicate sheet, for example, at the tip portion of the free section . As illustrated by the chain double-dashed line in Fig. 5 , the free section of the gather elastic members 16 is erected by elastic stretching force to form the three-dimensional gather BS in a completed product.
  • the liquid impervious back surface side sheet 12 is folded back to the back surface side together with the liquid-pervious front surface sheet 11 at both sides of the absorber 13 in the width direction.
  • the liquid-impervious back surface side sheet 12 is preferably opaque to block transmission of brown color of stool and urine.
  • Preferred examples of the opacifying agent compounded in the plastic film include colorant or filler, such as calcium carbonate, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, white carbon, clay, talc, and barium sulfate.
  • the gather elastic member 16 may be composed of commodity materials, for example, styrene rubber, olefin rubber, urethane rubber, ester rubber, polyurethanes, polyethylene, polystyrene, styrene-butadiene, silicones, and polyester.
  • the gather elastic members 16 preferably have a fineness of 925 dtex or less and are disposed under a tension of 150% to 350% at an interval of 7.0 mm or less to be hidden from outside view.
  • the gather elastic member 16 may have a string shape shown in the drawing or a tape shape with an appropriate width.
  • the gather nonwoven fabric 15 may be composed of raw fibers including synthetic fibers, such as olefin fibers of, for example, polyethylene fibers or polypropylene fibers; polyester fibers and amide fibers; recycled fibers of, for example, rayon and cupra; and natural fibers such as cotton.
  • the gather nonwoven fabric may be prepared by any appropriate process, for example, spun bonding, thermal bonding, melt blowing, or needle punching.
  • the basis weight should be reduced for production of a nonwoven fabric that can prevent stuffiness and has high air permeability.
  • the gather nonwoven fabric 15 is preferably a water-repellent nonwoven fabric coated with a water repellent agent, for example, a silicone-based agent, a paraffin-metallic agent, or an alkyl chromic chloride agent to decrease permeability of urine and the like, to prevent diaper rash, and to enhance feeling to skin (dryness).
  • a water repellent agent for example, a silicone-based agent, a paraffin-metallic agent, or an alkyl chromic chloride agent to decrease permeability of urine and the like, to prevent diaper rash, and to enhance feeling to skin (dryness).
  • the elastic film 30 is arranged between the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B, and elasticity in the width direction is imparted.
  • a portion located so as to correspond to the waist portion 23 in the elastic film 30 is interposed in the folded part 20C formed by folding back a sheet member of the second sheet layer 20B to the internal surface side at a waist opening edge.
  • the portion located so as to correspond to the waist portion 23 may be interposed between a sheet member of the first sheet layer 20A and the sheet member of the second sheet layer 20B.
  • a planar shape of the outer body 20 corresponds to a pseudo-hourglass shape as a whole due to concave leg lines 29 formed as leg openings at both side portions and at the middle of the outer body 20.
  • the outer body 20 may be divided into two front and back parts, and the both parts may be separated from each other in the front-back direction by the crotch portion.
  • the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B may be composed of any sheet members, preferably nonwoven fabrics in view of air permeability and softness.
  • the nonwoven fabric may be composed of any raw fiber. Examples of the raw fiber include synthetic fibers, such as olefin fibers, e.g., polyethylene fibers and polypropylene fibers, polyester fibers, and polyamide fibers; recycled fibers, such as rayon and cupra; natural fibers, such as cotton; and blend or conjugate fibers composed of two or more of these fibers.
  • the nonwoven fabric may be prepared by any process. Examples of such a process include well-known processes, such as spun lacing, spun bonding, thermal bonding, melt blowing, needle punching, air-through processes, and point bonding.
  • the nonwoven fabric preferably has a basis weight of approximately 10 to 25 g/m 2 .
  • the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B may be composed of a pair of facing layers prepared by folding back a single sheet that is partially or
  • the elastic film stretchable structures 20X are formed in the lower-torso region T of the front body F, the lower-torso region T of the back body B, and an intermediate region L therebetween in the outer body 20. That is, in the stretchable structures 20X of the outer body 20, a non-stretchable region 70 is formed in an intermediate portion in the width direction, which includes parts of the outer body 20 overlapping with the absorber 13 (the non-stretchable region 70 may entirely or partly overlap with the absorber 13 and preferably should contain the substantially entire fixed portion 10B of the inner body) as well as the stretchable regions 80 extend to the side seal portions 21 in the width direction.
  • the elastic film 30 is, as shown in Fig.
  • first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B are joined at a large number of bond portions 40 arrayed in the stretching and contracting direction and the perpendicular direction thereto at predetermined intervals via the through holes 31 formed in the elastic film 30 in a state in which the elastic film 30 is stretched in the width direction.
  • first sheet layer 20A is not and the second sheet layer 20B is not joined to the elastic film 30 (except for a melted and solidified material described below) .
  • joining is allowed.
  • the area rate of the bond portions 40 in the non-stretchable region 70 is determined to be larger than that in the stretchable regions 80, such that the elongation at the elastic limit in the stretching and contracting direction is 130% or less (preferably 120% or less, more preferably 100%) .
  • the area rate of the bond portions 40 in the stretchable regions 80 is determined to be smaller than that in the non-stretchable region 70, such that the elongation at the elastic limit in the stretching and contracting direction is 200% or higher (preferably 265 to 295%).
  • ends of the stretchable regions 80 adjacent to the non-stretchable regions 70 are set to buffer stretchable sections 82 each having a smaller area rate of the bond portions 40 than that of the remaining sections or main stretchable sections 81 of the stretchable regions 80.
  • the buffer stretchable sections 82 are assumed to cause the following variations: In the case where the buffer stretchable sections 82 and the main stretchable sections 81 are stretched from the natural length state by gradually increasing stress, there are the first phase and the second phase . In the first phase, while both of the buffer stretchable sections 82 and the main stretchable sections 81 are stretched, the buffer stretchable sections 82 are stretched to the elastic limit into a completely spread state (illustrated in Fig.
  • the main stretchable sections 81 go through the first phase and then the second phase where the main stretchable sections 81 are stretched to the elastic limit into a completely spread state (illustrated in Fig. 3(b) ).
  • the buffer stretchable sections 82 having a low elongation at elastic limit are stretched; therefore, a small tension is applied to boundaries between the buffer stretchable sections 82 and the non-stretchable regions 70 of the elastic film 30. Ruptures of the elastic film 30 at the boundaries between the buffer stretchable sections 82 and the non-stretchable regions 70 are thereby prevented.
  • buffer stretchable sections 82 are not provided as illustrated in Fig. 9(b) , in such a case, the stretchable region 80 has a high elongation at an elastic limit, and tension applied to the boundary between the stretchable region 80 and the non-stretchable region 70 of the elastic film 30 increases until the boundary between the stretchable region 80 and the non-stretchable region 70 of the elastic film 30 is stretched to the elongation at elastic limit into a completely spread state.
  • the elastic film 30 is thereby likely to rupture along the boundary between the stretchable region 80 and the non-stretchable region 70 (the edges of the ruptured elastic film is indicated by the chain double-dashed lines), as illustrated in Fig. 14 .
  • the elongation at elastic limit of the buffer stretchable section 82 be smaller than a tensile elongation in the stretching and contracting direction of the elastic film 30 having a width equal to an interval between two adjacent through holes 31 formed in the elastic film 30 and arrayed in the direction orthogonal to the stretching and contracting direction and in the non-stretchable region 70, to certainly prevent the rupture of the elastic film 30 at the boundary between the stretchable region 80 and the non-stretchable region 70.
  • a shape of each of the bond portions 40 and of each of the through holes 31 in the natural length state may be set to an arbitrary shape such as a perfect circle, an ellipse, a polygon such as a rectangle (including a linear shape or a rounded corner), a star shape, a cloud shape, etc.
  • a size of each of the bond portions 40 may be appropriately determined. At an excessively large size, the hardness of the bond portions 40 significantly affects the touch, whereas at an excessively small size, the bonded area is too small to certainly bond the layers.
  • Each of the bond portions 40 preferably has an area of approximately 0.14 to 3.5mm 2 , in usual cases.
  • Each of the through holes 31 should have an opening area larger than that of the corresponding bond portion 40 when the bond portion 40 is formed and joined within the through hole 31.
  • the through hole 31 preferably has an opening area of approximately 1 to 1.5 times the area of the bond portion 40.
  • each of the bond portions 40 in each region are preferably set as below.
  • the number of the bond portions 40 per unit area may be varied, as illustrated in Fig. 10 (a) , or the area of each of the bond portions 40 may be varied, as illustrated in Fig. 10(b) .
  • the areas of the bond portions 40 may be the same between two or more fields of the non-stretchable region 70, the main stretchable section 81, and the buffer stretchable section 82, or may be different among all the fields.
  • the number of the bond portions 40 per unit area may the same between two or more fields of the non-stretchable region 70, the main stretchable section 81, and the buffer stretchable section 82, or may be different among all the fields.
  • planar geometries of the bond portions 40 and the through holes 31 may be appropriately determined.
  • Preferred is regularly repeated geometry, such as an oblique lattice illustrated in Fig. 15(a) , hexagonal lattice (also referred to as staggered lattice) illustrated in Fig. 15 (b) , square lattice illustrated in Fig. 15(c) , rectangular lattice illustrated in Fig. 15(d) , or parallelotope lattice illustrated in Fig. 15 (e) (where two groups of a large number of diagonally parallel arrays intersect each other, as shown in the drawings) (including arrays tilted by less than 90 degrees to the stretching and contracting direction) .
  • the bond portions 40 may be arrayed in regularly repeated groups (the geometry of each group may be regular or irregular, in other words, may be in a pattern or characteristic letters, for example) .
  • the geometries of the bond portions 40 and the through holes 31 may be the same or different among the main stretchable section 81, the buffer stretchable section 82, and the non-stretchable region 70.
  • the non-stretchable region 70 in which the bond portions 40 are disposed in a shape of an indication 71 in addition to the portion overlapping with the absorber 13, for example, it is possible to provide the non-stretchable region 70 in which the bond portions 40 are disposed in a shape of an indication 71.
  • the buffer stretchable section may be provided in the stretchable region 80 continuing from the non-stretchable region 70.
  • the indication 71 may correspond to an indication known in a field of the absorbent article, for example, a pattern for decoration (including a tiny picture or a character), a function indicator such as a usage method, usage assistance, a size, etc., or a mark indication such as a manufacturer, a product name, a characteristic function, etc.
  • the applied indication 71 is a flower pattern corresponding to a plant pattern. However, it is possible to use various types of patterns such as an abstract pattern, an animal pattern, and a natural phenomenon pattern.
  • the elastic film 30 may be composed of any resin film having elasticity.
  • a film obtained by processing a blend of one or two or more types of thermoplastic elastomers such as a styrene type elastomer, an olefin type elastomer, a polyester type elastomer, a polyamide type elastomer, a polyurethane type elastomer, etc. in a film shape using extrusion molding such as a T-die method, an inflation method, etc.
  • a film in which a large number of holes or slits are formed for ventilation in addition to a nonporous film.
  • the elastic film 30 has a tensile strength in the stretching and contracting direction of 8 to 25 N/35 mm, tensile strength in the direction orthogonal to the stretching and contracting direction of 5 to 20 N/35 mm, tensile elongation in the stretching and contracting direction of 450 to 1,050%, and tensile elongation in the direction orthogonal to the stretching and contracting direction of 450 to 1,400%.
  • the tensile strength and the tensile elongation refer to values measured at an initial chuck interval to 50 mm and a speed of testing of 300 mm/min with a tensile tester (for example, AUTOGRAPH-G100N available from SHIMADZU) in accordance with JIS K 7127: 1999 "Plastics - Determination of tensile properties -" except that the specimen is formed in a rectangular shape having a width of 35 mm and a length of 80 mm.
  • the thickness of the elastic film 30 is not particularly restricted. However, the thickness is preferably in a range of about 20 to 40 ⁇ m.
  • the basis weight of the elastic film 30 is not particularly restricted. However, the basis weight is preferably in a range of about 30 to 45 g/m 2 , and particularly preferably in a range of about 30 to 35 g/m 2 .
  • the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B in the bond portions 40 may be joined by a hot-melt adhesive .
  • the sheet layers are preferably joined by joining means based on material welding such as heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing, etc.
  • the through holes of the elastic film may be formed by extrusion, and the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B may be directly joined by welding at positions of the through holes as described in Patent Literature 1.
  • the peeling strength is low, peeling may occur when a strong force is applied.
  • Patent Literature 1 since the through holes of the elastic film are formed by extrusion, the elastic film 30 is not left between the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B as illustrated in Fig. 8(b) , and there is a concern that extrusion debris (not illustrated) may be movably left around the through holes 31.
  • joining the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B through the elastic film 30 without forming the through holes in the elastic film 30 may be taken into consideration.
  • Fig. 8 (a) it is preferable to adopt a mode in which the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B in the bond portions 40 are joined at least by a melted and solidified material 30m of the elastic film 30 among the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B.
  • a peeling strength becomes high, and it is possible to achieve both high air permeability and high peeling strength.
  • the elastic film 30 when welding is performed in a predetermined pattern of the bond portions 40 in a state in which the elastic film 30 is interposed between the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B while being stretched in the stretching and contracting direction, the elastic film 30 may be melted at a large number of positions to form the through holes 31, and manufacture may be simply and efficiently performed using a method of joining the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B by at least solidification of the melted material of the elastic film 30 at positions of the through holes 31.
  • the shape/area of each of the bond portions 40 are substantially equal to the shape/area of each of the through holes 31.
  • FIG. 19 illustrates an example using a heat sealing device.
  • a material to be processed while in the material, the elastic film 30 is interposed between the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B, is fed between a seal roll 60 having a large number of pressing protrusions 60p arranged in the above pattern of the bond portions 40 on an outer surface thereof and an anvil roll 61 which is disposed to face the seal roll 60 and has a smooth surface, and the pressing protrusions 60p are heated.
  • the elastic film 30 is melted only where pressed in the thickness direction between the pressing protrusions 60p and an outer surface of the anvil roll 61 to form the through holes 31, and the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B are joined at least by the solidification of the melted material of the elastic film 30 at the positions of the through holes 31.
  • another device such as ultrasonic sealing may be used as long as the elastic film 30 is melted in a desired pattern to form the through holes 31, and the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B are joined at least by solidification of the melted material of the elastic film 30 at the positions of the through holes 31.
  • the melting points of the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B it is preferable to set the melting points of the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B to be higher than the melting point of the elastic film 30, melt the elastic film 30 at the welding position, and not to melt a part of the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B or not to melt a whole of the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B.
  • a latter case corresponds to a structure in which fibers 20f of the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B continuing from around the bond portions 40 are left, and the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B are joined by the melted and solidified material 30m of the elastic film 30, which has infiltrated and solidified among the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B. Further, improved adhering of the melted and solidified material of the elastic film to the first sheet layer and the second sheet layer is obtained, and strength of the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B rarely decreases. Thus, peeling strength is further enhanced.
  • This situation in which "a part of the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B is not melted” includes a mode in which for all fibers of the bond portions, a core (including a central portion of each component fiber of a conjugate fiber in addition to a core of the conjugate fiber) remains while a surrounding portion (including a portion on a surface layer side of each component fiber of a conjugate fiber in addition to a sheath in the conjugate fiber) melts; a mode in which some fibers do not melt at all while all remaining fibers melt; or a mode in which a core remains while a surrounding portion melts.
  • the melting point of the elastic film 30 is preferably about 80 to 145°C
  • the melting points of the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B are preferably about 85 to 190°C, particularly, 150 to 190°C
  • a difference between the melting points of the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B and the melting point of the elastic film 30 is preferably about 60 to 80°C.
  • the elastic film 30 extends up to the waist portion 23. Further, as a height of a stretch rate is illustrated by a length of a two-dot chain line arrow in Fig. 2 , in a state in which the elastic film 30 is stretched in the stretching and contracting direction at a stretch rate continuously increasing from the crotch side toward the waist opening side, the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B are joined.
  • Fig. 24(a) the stretchable region 80 in which the bond portions 40 are arranged in the same pattern is assumed.
  • the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B are joined in a state in which the elastic film 30 is stretched at a stretch rate continuously changing in the direction orthogonal to the stretching and contracting direction of the stretchable region 80.
  • the contraction increases in a part in which a stretch rate is high in fixing the elastic film 30, that is, at an upper side of the figure, and a distance between the adjacent two bond portions 40 becomes narrow.
  • a contraction force increases toward the upper side of the figure . Therefore, as is understood from a state after manufacture illustrated in Fig. 18 , in a natural length state, an external shape in which a width becomes narrow toward the waist opening side is obtained.
  • a separate elongated elastically stretchable member may be provided in the waist portion 23.
  • the separate elongated elastically stretchable member may be provided in the waist portion 23.
  • the elastic film 30 may be allowed to extend up to the waist portion 23.
  • the waist portion 23 remarkably contracts when compared to a part on the crotch side thereof, and thus appearance deteriorates.
  • the elastic film is fixed at the stretch rate continuously changing and the elongated elastically stretchable member of the waist portion is combined with the elastic film fixed in this way, appearance is excellent due to continuous change in the contraction amount.
  • the elongated elastically stretchable member is provided in the waist portion 23
  • three or more, preferably five or more elongated elastically stretchable members are disposed at intervals of about 3 to 8 mm to form a predetermined stretchable zone.
  • a stretch rate of the elastic member provided in the waist portion 23 in fixing may be appropriately determined. However, the stretch rate may be set to about 230 to 320% in the case of normal adult use.
  • One or a plurality of belt shaped elastic members may be used as the elastic member provided in the waist portion 23.
  • an elongation at an elastic limit of a portion having the highest elongation (approximately equal to a stretch rate in fixing the same in the stretchable structure) is set to 1.1 to 1.5 times an elongation at an elastic limit of a portion having the lowest elongation. More specifically, for example, in the case of the illustrated embodiment, an elongation at an elastic limit of the waist portion may be set to about 250 to 295%, and an elongation at an elastic limit of the part on the crotch side thereof may be set to about 200 to 250%.
  • Fig. 18 illustrates an example of a method of manufacturing an underpants-type disposable diaper having substantially the same structure as that of the above description.
  • This production line corresponds to a horizontal flow mode in which the width direction of the diaper is MD (line flow direction), and the outer body 20 is formed thereon.
  • MD line flow direction
  • the inner body 10 manufactured on another line is attached to the outer body 20
  • both side portions of front and back outer bodies 20 are joined by folding at a center in the front-back direction, and division into individual diapers DP is performed.
  • the same name and reference symbol as those of a member after manufacture are used for members that are continuous in a manufacturing process.
  • this production line includes an outer body assembly process 301, an inner body attachment process 302, a leg opening punching process 303, a folding process 304, and a side portion joining/separation process 305.
  • the outer body assembly process 301 is a characteristic process. Specifically, in the outer body assembly process 301, as enlarged and illustrated in Fig.
  • the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B that are continuous in belt-shaped manner with predetermined widths are fed to sealing devices 60 and 61 and such that the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B are bonded along a continuing direction thereof, and the elastic film 30 that is continuous in belt-shaped manner with predetermined width passes through a stretch roll group 90 and is fed to the sealing devices by being interposed between the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B in a state of being stretched in the MD.
  • one sheet material is segmented into two parts by a slitter 62 to feed the first sheet layer 20A as separate front and back parts.
  • the sheet material may be fed as separate front and back parts, or a unified front and back sheet material may be fed similarly to the second sheet layer 20B without separating the first sheet layer 20A into front and back parts.
  • one elastic film 30 is segmented into two parts by the slitter 62 to feed the elastic film 30 as separate front and back parts.
  • the elastic film 30 may be fed as separate front and back parts, or a unified front and back elastic film 30 may be fed, without separating the elastic film 30 into front and back parts.
  • the elastic film 30 is stretched at a stretch rate that continuously changing in CD (Cross Direction) (a direction orthogonal to the MD).
  • the stretch roll group 90 includes first nip rolls 91 and second nip rolls 92 disposed at intervals in the MD.
  • the first nip roll 91 is a cylindrical roll and the second nip roll 92 is a truncated cone roll.
  • the first nip rolls 91 and the second nip rolls 92 are driven at the same revolutions per minutes (RPM), and both the first nip rolls 91 and the second nip rolls 92 feed the elastic film 30 by interposing the elastic film 30 between the rolls, respectively.
  • RPM revolutions per minutes
  • each of the second nip rolls 92 is disposed such that the crotch side has a larger diameter as illustrated in Fig. 20 , and thus a feeding speed of the elastic film 30 increases from the waist side toward the crotch side.
  • this feeding speed is slower than a feed speed in the sealing devices 60 and 61 at a subsequent stage.
  • the elastic film 30 is stretched in the MD at a stretch rate increasing from the crotch side toward the waist side between the sealing devices 60 and 61 and the second nip roll 92.
  • the elastic film 30 is sealed by the sealing devices 60 and 61, and the outer body 20 in which the leg opening is to be formed is formed.
  • the sealing devices 60 and 61 of the illustrated embodiment correspond to an example using a heat sealing device.
  • the first sheet layer 20A, the elastic film 30 stretched in the MD at the stretch rate increasing from the crotch side toward the waist side, and the second sheet layer 20B are interposed by a seal roll 60 having a plurality of pressing protrusions 60p arranged in the pattern of the bond portions 40 described above on an outer circumference surface, and an anvil roll 61 which is disposed to face the seal roll 60 and has a smooth surface.
  • the elastic film 30 is melted only in a part pressed in the thickness direction between the pressing protrusions 60p and an outer circumference surface of the anvil roll 61 by heating the pressing protrusions 60p, thereby forming the through holes 31, and the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B are bonded by welding at positions of the through holes 31.
  • Another device such as an ultrasonic sealing device may be used as the sealing device.
  • the underpants-type disposable diaper may be formed by adopting a known manufacturing process.
  • the inner body 10 manufactured on another line is fed at a predetermined interval in the MD to the outer body 20 formed by the sealing devices 60 and 61 in the inner body attachment process 302, and is joined to the outer body 20 using appropriate means such as a hot-melt adhesive, heat sealing, etc.
  • inner assembly bodies 10 and 20 are formed.
  • leg opening punching process 303 leg openings are formed in order by a cutter device 63.
  • the folding process 304 the inner assembly bodies 10 and 20 are folded at a center in the CD.
  • each of the manufactured individual diapers DP has an external shape in which the width becomes narrow toward the waist side in the natural length state.
  • the illustrated example corresponds to an example in which the elastic film stretchable structure 20X is applied to the stretchable structure of the lower-torso region T and the intermediate region L of the outer body 20.
  • the above-described stretchable structure 20X may be applied to another elastic portion such as a three-dimensional gather, a plane gather, etc.
  • the non-stretchable region 70 is included in the present embodiment, it is possible to adopt a mode in which the whole elastic film 30 stretchable structure 20X is used as the stretchable region 80 and the non-stretchable region is not included.
  • the stretching and contracting direction is regarded as the width direction in the illustrated embodiment, the stretching and contracting direction may be set to both the width direction and the front-back direction.
  • front and back cover sheets 50 and 60 may be provided to cover front and back end portions of the inner body 10 attached on the internal surface of the outer body 20 to prevent leakage from the front and back edges of the inner body 10.
  • the front cover sheet 50 extends over the whole width of the front body F on the internal surface of the front body F from the internal surface of the folded part 20C at a waist side end of the front body F to a position overlapping with the front end portion of the inner body 10.
  • the back cover sheet 50 extends over the whole width of the back body B on the internal surface of the back body B from the internal surface of the folded part 20C at a waist side end of the back body B to a position overlapping with the back end portion of the inner body 10.
  • slight non-adhesive portions are provided over the whole width (or only at a central part) at side edge portions of the front and back cover sheets 50 and 60 at the crotch side, leakage of the adhesive can be prevented and these non-adhesive portions may function as barriers against leakage when slightly raised from the surface sheet.
  • the folded parts 20C formed by folding back the outer body 20 toward the internal surface side of the diaper may be respectively extended to portions overlapping the inner body 10, to form portions equivalent to the front and back cover sheets 50 and 60.
  • the above example adopts a mode in which the stretch rate of the elastic film 30 increases from the crotch side toward the waist side.
  • a level of a stretch rate is illustrated by a length of a two-dot chain line arrow in Fig. 21 , it is possible to adopt a mode in which the stretch rate increases from the middle in the vertical direction toward the crotch side and the waist side.
  • the latter mode maybe formed by disposing a truncated cone roll 92 whose diameter decreases from the middle in the CD toward one side in the CD and a truncated cone roll 92 whose diameter decreases from the middle in the CD toward another side in the CD illustrated in Fig. 22 as the second nip roll 92 in a manufacturing flow illustrated in Fig. 18 .
  • the present invention is not limited to the above examples as long as the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B are joined together in a state in which the elastic film 30 is stretched in the stretching and contracting direction at a stretch rate continuously changing in the direction orthogonal to the stretching and contracting direction of the stretchable region 80.
  • the invention may be generally used for an absorbent article having a stretchable region such as a sanitary napkin, various disposable diapers such as a tape-type disposable diaper, an underpants-type disposable diaper, etc. in addition to the underpants-type disposable diaper in the above example, etc.
  • B backbody, F ... front body, T ... lower-torso region, L ... intermediate region, 10 ... inner body, 11 ... liquid-pervious front surface sheet, 12 ... liquid impervious back surface side sheet, 13 ... absorber, 13N ... narrower portion, 14 ... package sheet, 15 ... gather nonwoven fabric, 16 ... gather elastic member, 20 ... outer body, 20A ... first sheet layer, 20B ... second sheet layer, 20C ... folded part, 20X ... stretchable structure, 21 ... side seal portion, 23 ... waist portion, 25 ... contraction wrinkle, 29 ... leg line, 30 ... elastic film, 31 ... through hole, 40 ... bond portion, 70 ... non-stretchable region, 71 ... indication, 80 ... stretchable region, 81 ... main stretchable section, 82 ... buffer stretchable section.

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Claims (4)

  1. Article absorbant comprenant
    une région étirable qui est peut être étirée au moins dans une direction, dans lequel
    la région étirable est formée en empilant un film élastique entre une première couche en feuille faite d'un tissu non-tissé et une deuxième couche en feuille faite d'un tissu non-tissé, et dans un état dans lequel le film élastique est étiré dans une direction d'étirage et de contraction de la région étirable, à raison d'un taux d'étirage qui échange continuellement dans une direction orthogonale à la direction d'étirage et de contraction, la première couche en feuille et la deuxième couche en feuille étant jointes via des trous traversants formés dans le film élastique au niveau d'un grand nombre de portions de collage agencées à intervalles dans la direction d'étirage et de contraction et dans la direction orthogonale à celle-ci.
  2. Article absorbant selon la revendication 1, dans lequel
    l'article absorbant est une couche à jeter du type couche-culotte comprenant :
    un corps extérieur inclus dans un corps avant et dans un corps arrière, et
    un corps intérieur qui inclut un produit absorbant et qui est fixé sur une surface interne du corps extérieur, dans lequel
    les deux portions latérales du corps extérieur dans le corps avant sont respectivement jointes aux deux portions latérales du corps extérieur dans le corps arrière afin de définir des portions d'étanchement latérales, et une région de bas de torse de forme annulaire, une ouverture pour la taille et une paire d'ouvertures de jambe à droite et à gauche étant ainsi formées,
    au moins un corps parmi le corps extérieur du corps avant et le corps extérieur du corps arrière présente la région étirable qui peut être étirée au moins dans une direction en largeur dans une portion de la région de bas de torse incluant au moins une portion pour la taille, et
    dans la région étirable, dans un état dans lequel le film élastique est étiré dans la direction d'étirage et de contraction à un taux d'étirage qui augmente en continu depuis le côté de l'entrejambe en direction d'un côté de l'ouverture pour la taille, la première couche en feuille et la seconde couche en feuille sont jointes l'une à l'autre.
  3. Article absorbant selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel
    une superficie de chacune des portions de collage dans la région étirable est dans une plage de 0,14 à 3,5 mm2,
    une superficie d'une ouverture de chacun des trous traversants dans un état à longueur naturelle est de 1 à 1,5 fois la superficie de chacune des portions de collage,
    un taux de superficie des portions de collage dans la région étirable est dans une plage de 1,8 à 22,5 %,
    la région étirable correspond à une région dans laquelle les portions de collage sont agencées dans le même motif, et
    une portion ayant l'allongement le plus élevé à une limite élastique de la région étirable présente un taux d'étirage fixé à 1,1 à 1,5 fois le taux d'étirage d'une portion ayant l'allongement le plus faible à la limite élastique dans la région étirable.
  4. Procédé de fabrication d'un article absorbant incluant une région étirable qui peut être étirée dans au moins une direction, dans lequel
    lors de la formation de la région étirable, dans un état dans lequel un film élastique est interposé entre une première couche en feuille faite d'un tissu non-tissé et une deuxième couche en feuille faite d'un tissu non-tissé tout en étant étirée dans une direction d'étirage et de contraction de la région étirable à raison d'un taux d'étirage qui change en continu dans une direction orthogonale à la direction d'étirage et de contraction,
    le film élastique est mis en fusion pour former des trous traversants à un grand nombre de positions agencées à intervalles dans la direction d'étirage et de contraction et dans la direction orthogonale à celle-ci, et
    la première couche en feuille et la deuxième couche en feuille sont jointes via les trous traversants.
EP16772631.4A 2015-03-30 2016-03-25 Article absorbant et procédé de production associé Active EP3278781B1 (fr)

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JP2015070293A JP6049222B2 (ja) 2015-03-30 2015-03-30 吸収性物品及びその製造方法
PCT/JP2016/059624 WO2016158750A1 (fr) 2015-03-30 2016-03-25 Article absorbant et procédé de production associé

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CN107427399B (zh) 2020-09-01
EP3278781A4 (fr) 2018-11-07
US10799401B2 (en) 2020-10-13
US20180078429A1 (en) 2018-03-22
WO2016158750A1 (fr) 2016-10-06
EP3278781A1 (fr) 2018-02-07
JP6049222B2 (ja) 2016-12-21
JP2016189824A (ja) 2016-11-10
CN107427399A (zh) 2017-12-01

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